Sunday Stone: Lapis

Happy birthday, Virgos and Libras! The modern birthstone for you is a sapphire, but since most of us don’t have the money to buy sapphires for our beading, we’ll go with September’s alternate, lapis lazuli … or just lapis.

Lapis has been around for a long, long, long time. According to Wikipedia, which has not been around so long, lapis has been mined in Afghanistan for 6,500 years. Wow!

The stone is, of course, know for its brilliant blue color, although there are many shades. It’s mostly lazurite, but can also contain pyrite, calcite and other minerals, according to Amethyst Galleries.

And finally, an interesting fact about lapis from the International Colored Gemstone Association: “Many a cutter ‘turns up his nose’ when cutting lapis lazuli, for as soon as the stone comes into contact with the cutting-disc it gives off a typical smell.” Having not cut stone myself, what is that typical smell? I’m guessing it’s not cupcakes or roses, if he turns up his nose.

Another stone next week, and this time on Sunday, I promise! Happy beading!